The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-20
SRECKIAgIDGB, or ARA,
ON THE BURDEN OF TAXATION
CHEATED BIZ THE WAR.
II Must Be Reduced to Relieve the
People-Hew that Nay Be
Done.

Der OF the Ways and Means Commit
tee OF the House Of Repi esentatives,
and asked him about this, and
whether his own stay and that OF
others had any political significance,
and what he thought OF the future.
Mr.. Breckenridge said:
ST have stayed here TO wind up a
lot Of department work that had to
carry over from the session OF Con-
grees and also 10 confer with others
about tariff matters for the next ses.
sion. 1t Is very important that those
who work, especially in this line,
should have some sort Of an under.
standing before they break up for the
long vacation. II they and the ad.
ministyation understand each other
and are Ia accord In the beginning, 1t
leads 10 more definite and satilfac-
tory stats OF things when Congress
meets. think that at this time the
success and usefulness OF the Demo-
cratic pa ty will depend upon how II
deals with the tariff question. A
party must show itself competent to
deal with the living Is ues Of the day.
No "Reminiscences will long sustain
party except military "reminiscences,
and no party can live on that nutri-
ment alone at this time. The Forty
ninth Congress has done more useful
general legislation than any Congress
In peaceful times since the first CON-
gress after the adoption OF the consti-
tuition. The administration has lifted
up and improved the whole tone and
character OF the executive branch OF
the government and the whole coun.
try has never In Its history been az
fraternal In Ito feelings and felt as safe
In all Its honest inter ests 90 Ia the casa
now. What 10 accomplished means 80
much removed from active politics,
and we wish now 10 confront the duty
that remains as yet unperformed. The
simple grta issue now before us is 10
reduce unnecessary taxes and reform
the Republican system Of taxation"
"What Ia the difference?"
"The Republicans say 90 on and
collect the money from the people
and waste 1t or consume II in immol q
and unmanly pension schemes, or
else take 1t of OF tobacco, whisky and
beer. We should do none OF these.
On this issue we shall stand or fall In
the next lCongress and before the
country In 1883. Our war expendi-
lures, interest, pensions and the
sinking, fund will long continue a.
about $50, 1000, COO year. They will
long continue at from 20,000,000 to
$4,000, 900 millions moro than we get
from tobacco, whisky aad beer.
ID nee this deficit as well as al the Or
binary civil service expenditure OF
the government are paid by taxes laid
mainly upon the necessities Of life.
We should take our stand inflexibly
upon the proposition that the surplus
taxes shall not be wasted or used to
detauch the people or In anywise con-
Bumed exceptin and under thestrlctly
legitimate functions and powers OF the
government. This would marrow the
question OF disp osal down 60 buying
bonds not yet due. This could not
continue long. Then comes the qdss-
ton Of appeal, which is, indeed, the
question from, the first. The Repuh-
licans hold that high taxes are bless.
Ing, that the strong must fear the
weak, that We are indebted to our bur-
dens for our blessings.
"We know that what we are is far
less than what we would be il we had
not been sbackled and burdened by
war debt and war taxes. Wages would
be higher, the country richer, wealth
more fairly distributed, the masses
happier. Hal we continued to grow
rs we did grow from 1850 to 1860 we
should now have over $50, 000, 600, 900
OF national wealth instead OF barely
SAC. DOC. DOC. 900. and. atrikingly enough.
the further we have gotten from the
devastating period OF The war the less
we have grown. Still, of course, we
have a great county, and despite high
taxes and most unequal system we
are, relatively speaking, a prosperous
people. We should demand that the
surplus taxes shall be !, fl at home in
the pockets of the people, and that
the repeals shall be of OF the necessa-
ries OF life."
"How had we bert make the fight?"
ITO make this fight in the best
shape we must work, as far as posi-
BILE, all together, and begin early and
never stop. The present dawniug
prosperity OF the people, after one of
our long and aim ost chronic periods
OF depression, will be partial and short
lived II they are still left to stagger
under the old burdens. A remission
OF $75. 000, 600 year OF taxes from the
nscesssre5 OF lie would SO Lessen the
burdens OF consumers and remove the
restrictions upon trade as TO increase
the wages OF every workingmaa and
quicken the commerce Of every trad
ing point in the country. To help Of.
feet these things | have remained in
Washington. l have Joined with
those who have urged the administra. |
lion to convene Congress in October. !
and upon the single point OF repeating |
taxes and reforming the tariff,
"What the administration will do l |
do not know. II / knew would not
say until they make their own views |
public. But / don't know. The Pes
ident aud MIR. FAirchild are conserva-
tive, prudent and firm men, and / |
shall lave great confidence in their
ultimate judgment. think they
fully realiE3 the gravity OF the ii ua,
ton, and they are evidently desirious
Of comforting fully with their party
associates, who must share with them
the responsibilities and labors OF the
Democratic control"
"What do you thiEk OF the indus
trial effect OF the accumulation Of a
surplusT
Il do not believe in the panic talk
that we bave from time to time. No
panic will proceed from anything
done a the Treasury further than the
old trouble OF the enforced collection
OF unnecessary taxes. This burden
upon the people and temporary diver.
sion of money from the people t. the
Treasury the administration cannot
stop, but, OF course, no great surplus
will be permitted to accumulate. 1t
Gao be, and necessarily would be, us d
in buying in the market bonds not
yet due. This situation is now tub.
stautially upon us. The question Ia.
is 1t sound public policy, and will the
people permit US TO tax them as thew |
are tax I'D, aud 10 be at the mercy of
corner in bonds not yet due? Wa
can run along shackled az we arc and |